The purpose of this dissertation was to develop the C⁺⁺ program Emergency Dose to calculate transport of radionuclides through indoor spaces using intermediate fidelity physics that provides improved spatial heterogeneity over well-mixed models such as MELCOR[trademark] and much lower computation times than CFD codes such as FLUENT[trademark]. Modified potential flow theory, which is an original formulation of potential flow theory with additions of turbulent jet and natural convection approximations, calculates spatially heterogeneous velocity fields that well-mixed models cannot predict. Other original contributions of MPFT are: 1) generation of high fidelity boundary conditions relative to well-mixed-CFD coupling methods (conflation), 2) broadening of potential flow applications to arbitrary indoor spaces previously restricted to specific applications such as exhaust hood studies, and 3) great reduction of computation time relative to CFD codes without total loss of heterogeneity. Additionally, the Lagrangian transport module, which is discussed in Sections 1.3 and 2.4, showcases an ensemble-based formulation thought to be original to interior studies. Velocity and concentration transport benchmarks against analogous formulations in COMSOL[trademark] produced favorable results with discrepancies resulting from the tetrahedral meshing used in COMSOL[trademark] outperforming the Cartesian method used by Emergency Dose. A performance comparison of the concentration transport modules against MELCOR[trademark] showed that Emergency Dose held advantages over the well-mixed model especially in scenarios with many interior partitions and varied source positions. A performance comparison of velocity module against FLUENT[trademark] showed that viscous drag provided the largest error between Emergency Dose and CFD velocity calculations, but that Emergency Dose’s turbulent jets well approximated the corresponding CFD jets. Overall, Emergency Dose was found to provide a viable intermediate solution method for concentration transport with relatively low computation times. / text

The motor functions of an animal require precisely timed and coordinated sequences of movements. The cerebellum is crucial for performing these functions with precision. To investigate cerebellar computations involved in precise motor movements, behavioral paradigms such as delay eyelid conditioning have been used. Delay eyelid conditioning trains an animal to close its eye in response to a previously neutral stimulus. The timing of the eyelid closure responses suggests that the cerebellum is capable of keeping track of the elapsed time since the onset of the stimulus. This dissertation proposes a network mechanism for cerebellar timing based on biologically informed simulations of the cerebellum. In chapter 2, a simulation with over a million cells is described. This simulation approaches the observed cerebellar connectivity in several well studied mammals. Graphics processing units (GPUs) provide the computational power necessary to perform this simulation at a practical speed. This chapter describes simulation algorithms that efficiently utilize GPUs. In chapter 3, the simulation is used to explore cerebellar timing mechanisms. The lateral inhibition among cerebellar Golgi cells is observed to be a potential mechanism for robust timing. Lateral Golgi inhibition enables the simulation to better replicate animal eyelid conditioning behavior for longer inter-stimulus intervals. In chapter 4, the emergent network mechanisms of lateral Golgi inhibition are analyzed by decomposing the network into its individual components. This component analysis demonstrates that nonreciprocal connectivity (where one Golgi cell inhibits another but does not receive inhibition in return) is useful for timing. Specifically, removing nonreciprocal connectivity greatly degrades the simulation's ability to keep track of time. This implies that the aforementioned component analyses are relevant to the emergent timing mechanisms of the network. Finally, in chapter 5, this dissertation discusses the relevance and limitations of the computational approach, biological predictions, and component analysis presented in previous chapters. / text

Not available / text

The objectives of this research were to develop a reconstruction capability using the Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories II (POST2), apply this capability to reconstruct the Huygens Titan probe entry, descent, and landing (EDL) trajectory, evaluate the newly developed POST2 reconstruction module, analyze the reconstructed trajectory, and assess the pre-flight simulation models used for Huygens EDL simulation. An extended Kalman filter (EKF) module was developed and integrated into POST2 to enable trajectory reconstruction (especially when using POST2-based mission specific simulations). Several validation cases, ranging from a single, constant parameter estimate to multivariable estimation cases similar to an actual mission flight, were executed to test the POST2 reconstruction module. Trajectory reconstruction of the Huygens entry probe at Titan was accomplished using accelerometer measurements taken during flight to adjust an estimated state (e.g., position, velocity, parachute drag, wind velocity, etc.) in a POST2-based simulation developed to support EDL analyses and design prior to entry. Although the main emphasis of the trajectory reconstruction was to evaluate models used in the NASA pre-entry trajectory simulation, the resulting reconstructed trajectory was also assessed to provide an independent evaluation of the ESA result. Major findings from this analysis include: Altitude profiles from this analysis agree well with other NASA and ESA results but not with Radar data, whereas a scale factor of about 0.93 would bring the radar measurements into compliance with these results; entry capsule aerodynamics predictions (axial component only) were well within 3-[sigma] bounds established pre-flight for most of the entry when compared to reconstructed values; Main parachute drag of 9% to 19% above ESA model was determined from the reconstructed trajectory; based on the tilt sensor and accelerometer data, the conclusion from this assessment was that the probe was tilted about 10 degrees during the Drogue parachute phase.

This MS thesis studies the effect of uncertainty in the demand of finished products, supply of raw materials, and maintenance resources availability on the maintenance schedule of a manufacturing facility. A simulation model is formulated in order to realistically model manufacturing systems of various complexities, consisting of multiple interacting machines that degrade and fail over time, and are repaired using imperfectly available maintenance crews and resources. A design of experiments (DOE) based sensitivity study is conducted to find the system parameters that mostly affected the maintenance decisions and corresponding profits. / text

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Industrial Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Electrical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Computer Science and Information Systems / Master / Master of Philosophy